WHO Members Again Attempt Global Plan Against Pandemics 06/12/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The most recent outbreak of pandemic influenza was mild, but the World Health Organization is still working on a plan of what to do should another, more severe outbreak ever occur. States will come together this month in another attempt to finalise this plan.
Studies Inform WIPO Enforcement Meeting As Development Issues Debated 03/12/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Development Agenda coordination again topped the agenda this week at the latest World Intellectual Property Organization meeting – this time, in the Advisory Committee on Enforcement. Also causing discussion was how to proceed with the group’s work programme, as seven governments made different suggestions for future topics.
Patent System Mainly Serves Select Developed Country Industries, Study Says 02/12/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The global patent system is intended to promote innovation and increase growth, but this might not always be the case, as it might only serve industries relying heavily on patents in advanced economies, according to a study on patents and manufacturing industries presented at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week.
Key IP-Related Personnel Changes In UN, National Agencies 01/12/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The end of the year is bringing many changes in intellectual property-related policy offices in Geneva and the capitals. Some of these changes include top offices at the World Intellectual Property Organization, the World Health Organization, South African government, United States government, and a global internet body. Intellectual Property Watch Subscribers can read the details here.
UN Climate Change Talks Start With Little Faith From Observers 29/11/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Today in Cancun, Mexico, the United Nations climate change conference opened with hopes of finding consensual solutions for the global environmental threat and its consequences. After the disappointing results of last year’s conference in Copenhagen, echoes of uncertainty on the outcome of the Cancun conference are being heard from many sides.
WIPO Development Agenda Coordination Seizes Up; Projects Approved 27/11/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As the first flurries of snow gave Geneva a foretaste of winter, delegates yesterday ended a week of negotiations in the World Intellectual Property Organization committee overseeing implementation of the WIPO Development Agenda. They agreed on some projects and postponed discussions on others until the next session, but remained frozen without agreement on details of the coordination mechanism for Agenda implementation. Numerous corridor discussions and informal meetings did not help the process.
Study Of Public Domain, Copyright At WIPO Offers Recommendations 26/11/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 9 Comments A better definition of the public domain is needed, but copyright and public domain are not antagonistic, said a study commissioned by the World Intellectual Property Organization presented this week. Also this week, a book on the role of copyright in access to knowledge in Africa was launched.
Friction Arises Over WIPO Development Agenda Coordination 25/11/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization this week are working through details of projects related to boosting the UN agency’s development orientation. But simultaneous closed, informal meetings on a mechanism for coordinating WIPO Development Agenda activities have proven more difficult, as developed countries try to contain the spread of the development committee’s influence – and work through their own differences, according to sources.
WIPO Works On Its Development Agenda Implementation This Week 22/11/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization this week are in discussions on how to ensure that WIPO activities are development-oriented. A particular focus will be the implementation of a Development Agenda coordination mechanism approved at the last session in May. Also new on the table this week is an agenda item on development-related issues and a proposal for a new project on cooperation between developing countries.
WIPO Copyright Committee Agrees To Extra Time On Visually Impaired Access 15/11/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee has reached an eleventh-hour agreement on a work programme that could help ease access to reading materials for the visually impaired.